The debate has intensified in the shipping industry on the use of LNG as a newly launched 'Beyond Methane Pledge' calls for a complete halt to its expansion and the use of other methane-based fuels.
This initiative, officially launched today (1 August) by the ‘Say No to LNG’ campaign and supported by eight civil society organisations, focuses on the climate risks posed by methane. The pledge advocates for a transition to zero-emission fuels and demands immediate cessation of investments in LNG infrastructure by 2025 and a full phase-out by 2030.
The Beyond Methane Pledge targets key industry leaders, including ship owners, cargo owners, ports, cities, policymakers, and financial institutions, urging them to commit to a sustainable energy future free from the dangers of methane. Curtis Martin from the Say No to LNG Campaign stated: ‘LNG is not a bridge fuel; it's a bridge to climate disaster.’
The campaign argues that reducing global methane emissions by 45% could prevent 260,000 premature deaths, 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits, 73 billion hours of lost labour from extreme heat, and 25 million tonnes of crop losses annually.
The campaign also suggests that investments in LNG infrastructure could become costly stranded assets for taxpayers and investors, locking the industry into a fossil fuel future. ‘Every dollar to LNG locks us into a fossil fuel future and takes away investments that lower the cost of true zero-emission fuels,’ said Martin.
Conversely, SEA-LNG, an industry coalition, asserts that advancements in technology are rapidly addressing methane slip, a significant issue associated with LNG use. According to SEA-LNG Chairman Peter Keller: ‘Methane slip will be eliminated for all engine technologies within the decade.’ He highlighted that 75% of LNG-fuelled vessels currently use 2-stroke diesel cycle engines that have effectively eradicated methane slip. Elsewhere, projects such as the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and the GREEN RAY project are also making some progress in reducing emissions from low-pressure engines.
Clarksons' data indicates a growing adoption of LNG, with 109 LNG dual fuel vessels ordered in the first half of 2024, bringing the total number of LNG-fuelled vessels to over 550, a figure expected to double by 2027. Keller noted, ‘This, in combination with the option to transition to net zero emissions through bio-methane and e-methane, provides ship owners and operators with the confidence that vessels ordered today are future-proofed for the next 25–30 years.’
The debate demonstrates a juncture for the shipping industry as it moves toward decarbonisation. While environmental advocates call for an immediate shift to zero-emission technologies, industry proponents of LNG highlight ongoing technological advancements aimed at mitigating its environmental impact.
